Knitting mechanism



Jan. 3, 1933. H. E. HQUSEMAN 1,892,702

KNITTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6 34 FIG 4 mwavrw? W/TA ESSJ I Jan. 3, 1933, v HQUSEMAN 1,892,702

- KNITTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan; 3, 5.933

uurrun srAras A'FEN'F HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN, OF EDGE MOOR, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD-TRUMP BROS. MACHINE COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE I KNITTING MECHANISM Application filed January 23, 1930. Serial No. 422,818.

This invention relates to a knitting mechanism and particularly to a novel means for controlling shogging movements of the wrap fingers of such-mechanism.

Heretofore shogging movements have been imparted to the wrap fingers through the medium of a cam acting on a lever connected to the spindle carrying the Wrap finger cylinder. With an arrangement of this type, not only is a cam of great accuracy required but it is necessary to provide a different cam for each distinct pattern. Besides, the change of cams necessitates the expenditure of considerable time and stoppage of the machine.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide improved means for controlling the shogging movements of the wrap fingers. object there is provided a preferred form of mechanism of simple construction capable of effecting definite movements of the Wrap fingers resulting their accurate positioning relative to the needles. Furthermore, the pattern controlling part of the mechanism may be readily changed-for the production of different patterns, for example,

during the knitting of the toe portion of hosiery, without stoppage of the machine.

Among the numerous objects relatingto details of the mechanism may be cited the provision of means for accurately adjusting the wrap finger cylinder relatively to the needles.

The invention and its objects will be understood from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a knitting machine including the mechanism forming a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of

details of the mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of a portion In the attainment of this broad tion includes a frame designated 2 which supports the usual mechanisms for effecting circular knitting, only those being shown,

however, which are necessary for an understanding of the present invention. The machine includes a stationary circle of needles, indicated by 4 with which cooperate the usual stitch forming elements (not shown) and wrap fingers 6 carried by a wrap finger cylinder 8 and adapted to be moved about the needles by selecting devices 10 of any desirable type, revolving about the circle of needles, to wrap yarns 12 in the hooks of the needles whereby they are knit into the fabric together with the primary yarn or yarns. The mechanisms just described are of a conventional type, the cylinder being arranged to be shogged to carry the wrap yarn or yarns into engagement with different needles whereby patterns may be produced.

T 0 effect this end, the cylinder is carried by the lower end of a spindle 14: slidably and rotatably journalled in a bracket 16 carried by an upright post 34 forming part of a frame. An arm 18, resting on the bracket 16, carries a key 21 which extends into an elongated slot 23 in the spindle of somewhat greater width than the key so that angular play may take place between the spindle and the arm 18.

Extending upwardly from opposite sides of arm 18 are lugs carrying adjustable screws 20 having opposed tapered ends between which the end of an arm 22 is adapted to engage. The arm 22 is secured to the spindle .by a set screw or the like.

between the spindle 14 and the arm 18 may be adjusted by screws 20. As the spindle is dropped from raised position, the arm 22 rides on the tapered end of one or the other of screws 20 into the space therebetween so that the adjustment is effected automatically to Ill position the wrap fingers relatively to the needles. The key 21 and slot 23 are provided to insure that excessive angular movement of spindle 14 does not occur during its rise and that the arm 22 moves between the screws 20 during its descent.

Secured to the end ofarm 18 is a plate 36 forming a rack provided with teeth arranged concentrically with spindle 14 and of a number in a given angle corresponding to the number of needles in the same angle. Also carried by arm 18 above plate 36 is a second rack 38 provided with similarly arranged teeth 102, there being twice as many teeth on plate 36 as on plate 38 in a given angle.

Cooperating with the teeth of rack 36 is a pawl 40 pivoted to an arm 42 and normally held in engagement with the teeth by a spring The arm 42 is secured to shaft 46 which is journalled to extend upwardly along post 34, its lower end being provided with an arm carrying a cam following pin or roller 48 urged by spring 47 into engagement with the cam surface on a lever 50 pivoted to one end of a bell crank 51 and held against an adjusting screw 52 thereon by a spring 54. The other end of the bell crank carries a follower working in a cam groove 56 formed in a gear connected to any suitable operating part of the machine so that an oscillation of thebell crank occurs during the formation of every course. By the arrangement just described, the pawl 40 will be normally operated to advance the wrap fingers one needle for each course, the range of movement o'f the pawl being adjustable by angular adjustment of lever 50. I

A sleeve 60 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on shaft 46, carrying at its lower end a downturnedaaarm '62 through which a pin 64 extends to'--prevent its rotation. The end of the arm overlies the head of an adjustable screw 66 mounted in a lever 68 pivoted to the frame at 70 and provided with a follower 72 vertically movable by lugs of various heights on a pattern chain 74 which is carried on a sprocket formed on a drum provided with a ratchet wheel 76 which is moved intermittently by a pawl 78 on the end of bell crank 51, so that the chain is advanced one link upon each reciprocation of the bell crank.

The upper end of sleeve 60 carries an extension 80in which is threaded an adjustable screw 82 the head of which engages a pin tension of shaft 46 at 88 so as to oscillate horizontally therewith, the pin being held,

against screw 82 by aspring 90. The segment is provided with a cam edge 92 and a depression 94. It also carries an inwardly extending adjustable screw 96. This screw is adapted to cooperate with cam surfaces on either or both of detents 98 and 100, both of which engage teeth 102, to move the detents from engagement with the teeth. It will be noted that the two detents have their ends differing by half a tooth length. Accordingly if they are alternately tripped and pawl 40 fails to en age the teeth of rack 36, the arm 18, and therefore spindle 14, is moved by spring 104 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, intermittently the distance of a half tooth on rack 102 corresponding to the distance of one tooth on rack 36. Or, in other words, each time such movement occurs, each of the wrap fingers 6 is moved an angular distance to bring it into cooperation with the next needle.

There is provided on the bracket 16 an adjustable stop screw 106 aranged to cooperate with a pin located in any one of a series of holes 108 in arm 18. If both detents 98 and 100 are simultaneously tripped, the arm 18 immediately snaps to a limiting position with a in in a hole 108 against stop 106, the adjusta -ility of this stop permitting an accurate setting of the wrap fingers relatively to the needles in this limiting. position.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described. In preparation for operation there is placed in the machine a suitable pattern chain 74 provided with plain links and links having lugs thereon of all or some of four different vertical heights to cooperate with follower 72.

Suppose, now, that bell crank 51 moves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. This will advance the ratchet 76, and at the same time shaft 46 is rotated by spring 47 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in lan, giving pawl 40 a backward movement.

et it be assumed that a plain link is under follower 7 2,which will therefore be in its lowermost position. Segment 86 will then also assume its lowermost position with opening 94 opposite the rear of pawl 40, so that it is free to engage rack 36, and adjustable screw 96 is below the lowermost detent 100. When the bell crank moves in the reverse direction, the pivoted end of pawl 78 rides back and drops behind the next tooth of 76 and shaft 46 is rocked by cam 50 in a counterclockwise direction. Pawl 40 therefore advances the 'rack 36 the distance of one tooth, one of detents 98 or 100 dropping behind a tooth 102 to hold the arm 18 in its new position. If

plain links continue to move under follower that a-sloping wrap design would be formed in the fabric. Such movements are, of course,

timed to take place during the time the fingers are in what may be termed retracted position, that is, inside the circle of needles. If instead of a plain link, a link having a lug of least height, designated hereafter as the first height, is moved below follower 72,

the segment will be slightly raised. Cam edge 92 will then contact with the end of pawl 40 retracting it from operative position while pin 96 assumes a position wherein it cooperates with detent 100. Accordingly movement of shaft 46 brings the pin against the cam end of detent 100 retracting it from the tooth which it engages and permitting the arm 18 to snap back an angular distance equal to the spacmg of the needles.

If the next lug is of a third height, detent 20 98 will be similarly tripped, so that alternate lugs of first and third heights will produce intermittent backward movements of the wrap fingers.

By using a lug of a second height intermediate the first and third heights, the pin 96 will simultaneously engage and retract both detents permitting the arm to snap back until a pin in a hole 108 engages stop 106.

A lug of a fourth height causes pin 96 to clear both pawls 98 and 100 and also holds pawl 40 disengaged so that no change in position of the wrap fingers occurs during an oscillation of bell crank 51.

It will thus be seen that five d'fi'erent operations may occur which may be summarized as follows:

0. 40 operativewrap fingers advanced.

1. 40 inoperative, detent 100 trippedwrap fingers moved back one needle.

2. 4O inoperative, both detents tripped wrap fingers moved back to extreme position.

3. 40 inoperative, detent 98 trippedwrap fingers moved back one needle.

4. 40 inoperative, nether detent tripped wrap fingers maintain fixed pos'tion.

Of course, the tripping of a detent which is not holdin a tooth 102 has no effect so that a stepping back movement requires alternate tripping of the detents.

From the above it will be obvious that intricate zigzag wrap yarn patterns may be readily obtained by the proper selection of pattern chains. Since a change of pattern requires only 'a change of chain 74:, whichis very readily effected, such change may be made without stopping the machine, for example, during the knitting of a toe portion of a stock ng. It will also be clear that very accurate positioning of. the yarn fingers is very readily obtainable and the cutting of accurate cams is rendered unnecessary.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism operatve to move the carrier, said ratchet mechanism including one set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in one direction and another set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in the opposite direction, and a pattern mechanism for selectively operating either of said sets of devices.

2. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism operative to move the carrier, said ratchet mechanism including one set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier In one direction and another set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in the opposite direction, said last named set of devices including a spring for moving the carrier and detent means releasable to permit action of the spring.

3. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carr'er to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism operative to move the carrier, said ratchet mechanism including one set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in one direction and another set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in the opposite direction, said last named set of devices including a spring for moving the carrier and detent means releasable to permit action of the spring to move the wrap finger a distance corresponding to one needle at a time.

4. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism operative to move the carrier, said ratchet mechanism including one set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in one direction and another set of devices for controlling movement of the carrier in the opposite direction, said last named set of devices including a spring for moving the carrier and detent means releasable to permit action of the spring to move the wrap finger 5 a distance corresponding to a number of needles at a time.

5. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a mechanism operative to move the carrier, a pattern mechanism for controlling the action of the said carrier moving mechanism, and an oscillating element for moving the pattern mechanism and operative to cause a selection by the pattern mechanism when moved in one direction and operative to actuate the carrier moving mechanism when moved in the other direction.

6. A knitting mechanism including a cir: cle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism operative to move the carrier, a pattern mechanism for controlling the action of the said carrier moving mechanism, and an oscillating element for moving the pattern mechanism and operative to cause a selection by the pattern mechanism when moved in one direction and operative to actuate the carrier moving mechanism when moved in the other direction.

7. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a device for urging the carrier in one direction and escapement means releasable to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging 65 device, said escapement means including detents arranged to be alternately tripped and ratchet means engaged by the detents.

8. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating there- 60 with to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a device for urging the carrier in one direction and escapement means releasable to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging device, said escapement means including detents arranged to be alternately or simultaneously tripped and ratchet means engaged by the detents.

9. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, the carrier being rotatably and slidably mounted in the machine frame whereby it may move towards or from the circle of needles, an arm mounted coaxially with the carrier, means for imparting shogging movements to the arm, a second arm carried by the carrier, and devices for connecting the arms whereby they may be relatively angularly adjusted.

10. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, the carrier being-rotatably and slidably mounted in the machine frame whereby it may move towards or from the circle of needles, an arm mounted coaxially with the carrier, means for imparting shogging movements to the arm, a second arm carried by the carrier, and devices for connecting the arms whereby they may be relatively angularly adjusted, the second arm being movable with the carrier during its sliding move ments away from the first arm.

11. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuatin the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, the carrier being rotatably and slidably mounted in the machine frame whereby it may move towards or from the circle of needles, an arm mounted coaxially with the carrier, means for imparting shogging movements to the arm, a second arm carried by the carrier, and devices for connecting the arms whereby they may be relatively angularly adjusted, the second arm being movable with the carrier during its sliding movements away from the first arm and being uided into engagement with the connecting evices upon approaching the first arm.

12. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuatin the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including ratchet means for moving the carrier in one direction, a device for urging the carrier in the opposite direction, and escapement means releasable to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging device, said escapement means including detents arranged to be alternately tripped and ratchet means engaged by the detents.

13. A knitting mechanism including a cir- Qcle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet secured to the carrier, a pawl cooperating with the-ratchet to move the carrier in one direction, a device for urging the carrier in the opposite direction, a second ratchet secured to the carrier having one half as many teeth as the first ratchet in a given are, and detents cooperating with the second ratchet and arran ed to be alternately tripped to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging device through steps of angular extent equal to the angle between adjacent teeth of the first ratchet.

14. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, a member through which the carrier is slidably movable, loose key and slot connections between the carrier and member whereby limited relative angular movements between them are possible, and means for accurately adjusting the angular relationship of the carrier and member within the limit of movement permitted by the key and slot connections.

15. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devicesi cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to, cause it to cooperate with a needle, a member through which the carrier is slidably movable, loose key and slot connections between the carrier and member whereby limited relative angular movements between them are possible, and means for accurately adjusting the angular relationship of the carrier and member within the limit of movement permitted by the key and slot connections, said last named means aligning the carrier and member as the former is brought to operating position.

60 16. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuatingthe wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with 65 a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into cooperation with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism including teeth, each tooth corresponding to a needle, the ratchet mechanism being operative to move the carrier in one direction to carry the wrap finger into cooperation with different predetermined needles, pattern mechanism for automatically controlling the action of the ratchet mechanism, and means for automatically reversing the movement of the carrier and positioning the wrap finger to cooperate with different predetermined needles.

17 A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a. needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including ratchet mechanism, and pattern mechanism including a pattern chain for automatically controlling the action of the ratchet mechanism to shog the carrier in either direction, said pattern mechanism bein operative. to automatically change the irection of the shogging movements.

18. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including two ratchet mechanisms operative to control movements of the carrier, one controlling movements in one direction and the other movements in the opposite direction, and patternmechanism for automatically controlling the action of the ratchet mechanisms.

19. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the wrap finger, pawl means for moving the ratchet beyond a position for proper cooperation between the wrap finger and a needle, detent means serving to releasably maintain the wrap finger in proper position to cooperate with a needle, and means for urging the carrier in a direction opposite the movement imparted by the pawl means.

20. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism having a reciprocatory driving pawl and a driven member moving with the carrier, including teeth individually corresponding with needles, and arranged to have a step by step movement in one direction imparted thereto by successive reciprocations of the driving pawl, and pattern mechanism for controlling operation of the driving pawl, and for automatically reversing themovement of the carrier.

21. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a device for urging the carrier in one direction, and escapement means normally having connection with a toothed member moving with the carrier to hold it against movement by said urging device, and pattern mechanism for automatically releasing the carrier from the restrainin action of the escapement means to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging device.

22. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a device for urging the carrier in one direction, ratchet means for intermittently moving the carrier against the action of the urging device, and escapement means normally having connection with a toothed member moving with the carrier to hold it against movement by said urging device, and pattern mechanism for automatically releasing the carrier from the restraining action of the escapement means to permit intermittent movements of the carrier under the action of said urging device.

23. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means urging the carrier in one direction, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, pawl means for moving the ratchet a sutficient distance to carry the wrap finger against the urging means from one needle to an adjacent need e, and detent means serving to hold the carrier against the force of the urging means to operatively register the Wrap finger with various needles.

24. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including two ratchets, detent means engageable with teeth of one ratchet to accurately operatively register the wrap fin er with various needles, and pawl means or moving the other ratchet to cause the detent means to engage different teeth.

25. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wra finger to cause it to cooperate with a nee le, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet mechanism having a multiple-toothed driven member, and pattern mechanism for automatically controlling the action of the shogging means to shog the carrier in either direction, said pattern mechanism being operative to automatically change the direction of the shogging movements.

26. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wra finger to cause it to cooperate with a nee le, means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles said vshogging means including an element fixed to the carrier, a device having forward and backward movements and acting directly upon said element to impart forward movements to the carrier, an means preventing the element from partaking of the backward movements of thedevice and serving to definitely align the carrier to locate the wrap finger in proper operative position relative to a needle, and

pattern mechanism for automatically controlling the action of the device.

27 A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuatin the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into cooperation with various needles, said shogging means including a spring constantly urging the carrier in one direction, a toothed plate moving with the carrier, the angular spacing of the teeth corresponding to the angular spacin between the needles, means occupying a fixe angular operative position with respect to the needle cylinder engaging the teeth of said platewhereby the wrap finger is registered with various needles, and means for releasing the teeth engaging means to initiate movement of the carrier under the action of the spring.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 20th day of January, 1930.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN. 

